List of Australian Football League premiers
This page is a complete chronological listing of Australian Football League premiers. The Australian Football League (AFL), known as the Victorian Football League (VFL) until 1990, is now the elite national competition in Australian rules football.
Each year, the premiership is awarded to the club which wins the AFL Grand Final. The Grand Final has been an annual tradition in its current format since 1931, and some form of Grand Final has been played in each season except for 1897 and 1924.
Since the introduction by the League of equalisation policies of a salary cap and draft in the late 1980s,[1] every AFL club (except for Gold Coast, which joined the league in only 2011) has made a preliminary final. This has had a significant impact on the spread of premierships: eleven different clubs won premierships in the eighteen seasons from 1990–2007, compared with only five clubs in the twenty-three seasons from 1967–1989.[2]
List of premiers
The following is a list of the premiers, and the Grand Final results and circumstances. Most conventional Grand Finals are a single match at the end of a finals series, the winner of which wins the premiership. Under early VFL finals systems in place prior to 1930, the circumstances of the Grand Final were often different; in many of those years, the minor premiers had the right to challenge the winner of the finals series for the premiership, so the Grand Finals of this era are a mixture of challenge matches, non-challenge matches which would have been followed by challenge matches had the minor premier been defeated, and some seasons where there was no right to challenge. Regardless of the circumstances of the time, all of these games are now recognised as Grand Finals.
VFL/AFL Premiers
Season | Premiers | Runners-up | Score | Venue | Attendance | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1897 | Essendon | Geelong | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
1898 | Fitzroy | Essendon | 5.8 (38) d. 3.5 (23) | Junction Oval | 16,538 | 24 September 1898 |
1899 | Fitzroy (2) | South Melbourne | 3.9 (27) d. 3.8 (26) | Junction Oval | 4,823 | 16 September 1899 |
1900 | Melbourne | Fitzroy | 4.10 (34) d. 3.12 (30) | East Melbourne Cricket Ground | 20,181 | 22 September 1900 |
1901 | Essendon (2) | Collingwood | 6.7 (43) d. 2.4 (16) | Lake Oval | 30,031 | 7 September 1901 |
1902 | Collingwood | Essendon (2) | 9.6 (60) d. 3.9 (27) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 35,202 | 20 September 1902 |
1903 | Collingwood (2) | Fitzroy (2) | 4.7 (31) d. 3.11 (29) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 32,263 | 12 September 1903 |
1904 | Fitzroy (3) | Carlton | 9.7 (61) d. 5.7 (37) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 32,688 | 17 September 1904 |
1905 | Fitzroy (4) | Collingwood (2) | 4.6 (30) d. 2.5 (17) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 30,000 | 30 September 1905 |
1906 | Carlton | Fitzroy (3) | 15.4 (94) d. 6.9 (45) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 44,437 | 22 September 1906 |
1907 | Carlton (2) | South Melbourne (2) | 6.14 (50) d. 6.9 (45) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 45,477 | 21 September 1907 |
1908 | Carlton (3) | Essendon (3) | 5.5 (35) d. 3.8 (26) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 50,261 | 26 September 1908 |
1909 | South Melbourne | Carlton (2) | 4.14 (38) d. 4.12 (36) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 37,759 | 2 October 1909 |
1910 | Collingwood (3) | Carlton (3) | 9.7 (61) d. 6.11 (47) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 42,790 | 1 October 1910 |
1911 | Essendon (3) | Collingwood (3) | 5.11 (41) d. 4.11 (35) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 43,905 | 23 September 1911 |
1912 | Essendon (4) | South Melbourne (3) | 5.17 (47) d. 4.9 (33) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 54,434 | 28 September 1912 |
1913 | Fitzroy (5) | St Kilda | 7.14 (56) d. 5.13 (43) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 59,556 | 27 September 1913 |
1914 | Carlton (4) | South Melbourne (4) | 6.9 (45) d. 4.15 (39) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 30,495 | 26 September 1914 |
1915 | Carlton (5) | Collingwood (4) | 11.12 (78) d. 6.9 (45) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 39,343 | 18 September 1915 |
1916 | Fitzroy (6) | Carlton (4) | 12.13 (85) d. 8.8 (56) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 21,130 | 2 September 1916 |
1917 | Collingwood (4) | Fitzroy (4) | 9.20 (74) d. 5.9 (39) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 25,512 | 22 September 1917 |
1918 | South Melbourne (2) | Collingwood (5) | 9.8 (62) d. 7.15 (57) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 39,262 | 7 September 1918 |
1919 | Collingwood (5) | Richmond | 11.12 (78) d. 7.11 (53) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 45,413 | 11 October 1919 |
1920 | Richmond | Collingwood (6) | 7.10 (52) d. 5.5 (35) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 53,908 | 2 October 1920 |
1921 | Richmond (2) | Carlton (5) | 5.6 (36) d. 4.8 (32) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 43,122 | 15 October 1921 |
1922 | Fitzroy (7) | Collingwood (7) | 11.13 (79) d. 9.14 (68) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 50,054 | 14 October 1922 |
1923 | Essendon (5) | Fitzroy (5) | 8.15 (63) d. 6.10 (46) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 46,566 | 20 October 1923 |
1924 | Essendon (6) | Richmond (2) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
1925 | Geelong | Collingwood (8) | 10.19 (79) d. 9.15 (69) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 64,288 | 10 October 1925 |
1926 | Melbourne (2) | Collingwood (9) | 17.17 (119) d. 9.8 (62) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 59,632 | 9 October 1926 |
1927 | Collingwood (6) | Richmond (3) | 2.13 (25) d. 1.7 (13) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 34,551 | 1 October 1927 |
1928 | Collingwood (7) | Richmond (4) | 13.18 (96) d. 9.9 (63) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 50,026 | 29 September 1928 |
1929 | Collingwood (8) | Richmond (5) | 11.13 (79) d. 7.8 (50) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 63,336 | 28 September 1929 |
1930 | Collingwood (9) | Geelong (2) | 14.16 (100) d. 9.16 (70) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 45,022 | 11 October 1930 |
1931 | Geelong (2) | Richmond (6) | 9.14 (68) d. 7.6 (48) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 60,712 | 10 October 1931 |
1932 | Richmond (3) | Carlton (6) | 13.14 (92) d. 12.11 (83) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 69,724 | 1 October 1932 |
1933 | South Melbourne (3) | Richmond (7) | 9.17 (71) d. 4.5 (29) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 75,754 | 30 September 1933 |
1934 | Richmond (4) | South Melbourne (5) | 19.14 (128) d. 12.17 (89) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 65,335 | 13 October 1934 |
1935 | Collingwood (10) | South Melbourne (6) | 11.12 (78) d. 7.16 (58) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 54,154 | 5 October 1935 |
1936 | Collingwood (11) | South Melbourne (7) | 11.23 (89) d. 10.18 (78) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 74,091 | 3 October 1936 |
1937 | Geelong (3) | Collingwood (10) | 18.14 (122) d. 12.18 (90) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 88,540 | 25 September 1937 |
1938 | Carlton (6) | Collingwood (11) | 15.10 (100) d. 13.7 (85) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 96,486 | 24 September 1938 |
1939 | Melbourne (3) | Collingwood (12) | 21.22 (148) d. 14.11 (95) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 78,110 | 30 September 1939 |
1940 | Melbourne (4) | Richmond (8) | 15.17 (107) d. 10.8 (68) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 70,330 | 28 September 1940 |
1941 | Melbourne (5) | Essendon (4) | 19.13 (127) d. 13.20 (98) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 79,687 | 27 September 1941 |
1942 | Essendon (7) | Richmond (9) | 19.18 (132) d. 11.13 (79) | Princes Park | 49,000 | 19 September 1942 |
1943 | Richmond (5) | Essendon (5) | 12.14 (86) d. 11.15 (81) | Princes Park | 42,100 | 25 September 1943 |
1944 | Fitzroy (8) | Richmond (10) | 9.12 (66) d. 7.9 (51) | Junction Oval | 43,000 | 30 September 1944 |
1945 | Carlton (7) | South Melbourne (8) | 15.13 (103) d. 10.15 (75) | Princes Park | 62,986 | 29 September 1945 |
1946 | Essendon (8) | Melbourne | 22.18 (150) d. 13.9 (87) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 73,743 | 5 October 1946 |
1947 | Carlton (8) | Essendon (6) | 13.8 (86) d. 11.19 (85) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 85,815 | 27 September 1947 |
1948 | Melbourne (6) | Essendon (7) | 10.9 (69) drew 7.27 (69) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 85,658 | 2 October 1948 |
13.11 (89) d. 7.8 (50) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 52,226 | 9 October 1948 | |||
1949 | Essendon (9) | Carlton (7) | 18.17 (125) d. 6.16 (52) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 90,453 | 24 September 1949 |
1950 | Essendon (10) | North Melbourne | 13.14 (92) d. 7.12 (54) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 87,601 | 23 September 1950 |
1951 | Geelong (4) | Essendon (8) | 11.15 (81) d. 10.10 (70) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 84,109 | 29 September 1951 |
1952 | Geelong (5) | Collingwood (13) | 13.8 (86) d. 5.10 (40) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 81,304 | 27 September 1952 |
1953 | Collingwood (12) | Geelong (3) | 11.11 (77) d. 8.17 (65) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 89,060 | 26 September 1953 |
1954 | Footscray | Melbourne (2) | 15.12 (102) d. 7.9 (51) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 80,897 | 25 September 1954 |
1955 | Melbourne (7) | Collingwood (14) | 8.16 (64) d. 5.6 (36) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 88,053 | 17 September 1955 |
1956 | Melbourne (8) | Collingwood (15) | 17.19 (121) d. 6.12 (48) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 115,803 | 15 September 1956 |
1957 | Melbourne (9) | Essendon (9) | 17.14 (116) d. 7.13 (55) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 100,324 | 21 September 1957 |
1958 | Collingwood (13) | Melbourne (3) | 12.10 (82) d. 9.10 (64) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 97,956 | 20 September 1958 |
1959 | Melbourne (10) | Essendon (10) | 17.13 (115) d. 11.12 (78) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 103,506 | 26 September 1959 |
1960 | Melbourne (11) | Collingwood (16) | 8.14 (62) d. 2.2 (14) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 97,457 | 24 September 1960 |
1961 | Hawthorn | Footscray | 13.16 (94) d. 7.9 (51) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 107,935 | 23 September 1961 |
1962 | Essendon (11) | Carlton (8) | 13.12 (90) d. 8.10 (58) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 98,385 | 29 September 1962 |
1963 | Geelong (6) | Hawthorn | 15.19 (109) d. 8.12 (60) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 101,452 | 5 October 1963 |
1964 | Melbourne (12) | Collingwood (17) | 8.16 (64) d. 8.12 (60) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 102,469 | 19 September 1964 |
1965 | Essendon (12) | St Kilda (2) | 14.21 (105) d. 9.16 (70) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 104,846 | 25 September 1965 |
1966 | St Kilda | Collingwood (18) | 10.14 (74) d. 10.13 (73) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 101,655 | 24 September 1966 |
1967 | Richmond (6) | Geelong (4) | 16.18 (114) d. 15.15 (105) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 109,396 | 23 September 1967 |
1968 | Carlton (9) | Essendon (11) | 7.14 (56) d. 8.5 (53) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 116,828 | 28 September 1968 |
1969 | Richmond (7) | Carlton (9) | 12.13 (85) d. 8.12 (60) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 119,165 | 27 September 1969 |
1970 | Carlton (10) | Collingwood (19) | 17.9 (111) d. 14.17 (101) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 121,696 | 26 September 1970 |
1971 | Hawthorn (2) | St Kilda (3) | 12.10 (82) d. 11.9 (75) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 118,192 | 25 September 1971 |
1972 | Carlton (11) | Richmond (11) | 28.9 (177) d. 22.18 (150) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 112,393 | 7 October 1972 |
1973 | Richmond (8) | Carlton (10) | 16.20 (116) d. 12.14 (86) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 116,956 | 29 September 1973 |
1974 | Richmond (9) | North Melbourne (2) | 18.20 (128) d. 13.9 (87) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 113,839 | 28 September 1974 |
1975 | North Melbourne | Hawthorn (2) | 19.8 (122) d. 9.13 (67) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 110,551 | 27 September 1975 |
1976 | Hawthorn (3) | North Melbourne (3) | 13.22 (100) d. 10.10 (70) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 110,143 | 25 September 1976 |
1977 | North Melbourne (2) | Collingwood (20) | 9.22 (76) drew 10.16 (76) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 108,224 | 24 September 1977 |
21.25 (151) d. 19.10 (124) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 98,366 | 1 October 1977 | |||
1978 | Hawthorn (4) | North Melbourne (4) | 18.13 (121) d. 15.13 (103) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 101,704 | 30 September 1978 |
1979 | Carlton (12) | Collingwood (21) | 11.16 (82) d. 11.11 (77) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 113,545 | 29 September 1979 |
1980 | Richmond (10) | Collingwood (22) | 23.21 (159) d. 9.24 (78) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 113,461 | 27 September 1980 |
1981 | Carlton (13) | Collingwood (23) | 12.20 (92) d. 10.12 (72) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 112,964 | 26 September 1981 |
1982 | Carlton (14) | Richmond (12) | 14.19 (103) d. 12.13 (85) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 107,537 | 25 September 1982 |
1983 | Hawthorn (5) | Essendon (12) | 20.20 (140) d. 8.9 (57) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 110,332 | 24 September 1983 |
1984 | Essendon (13) | Hawthorn (3) | 14.21 (105) d. 12.9 (81) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 92,685 | 29 September 1984 |
1985 | Essendon (14) | Hawthorn (4) | 26.14 (170) d. 14.8 (92) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 100,042 | 28 September 1985 |
1986 | Hawthorn (6) | Carlton (11) | 16.14 (110) d. 9.14 (68) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 101,861 | 27 September 1986 |
1987 | Carlton (15) | Hawthorn (5) | 15.14 (104) d. 9.17 (71) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 92,754 | 26 September 1987 |
1988 | Hawthorn (7) | Melbourne (4) | 22.20 (152) d. 6.20 (56) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 93,754 | 24 September 1988 |
1989 | Hawthorn (8) | Geelong (5) | 21.18 (144) d. 21.12 (138) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 94,796 | 30 September 1989 |
Australian Football League name adopted | ||||||
1990 | Collingwood (14) | Essendon (13) | 13.11 (89) d. 5.11 (41) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 98,944 | 6 October 1990 |
1991 | Hawthorn (9) | West Coast | 20.19 (139) d. 13.8 (86) | VFL Park | 75,230 | 28 September 1991 |
1992 | West Coast | Geelong (6) | 16.17 (113) d. 12.13 (85) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 95,007 | 26 September 1992 |
1993 | Essendon (15) | Carlton (12) | 20.13 (133) d. 13.11 (89) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 96,862 | 25 September 1993 |
1994 | West Coast (2) | Geelong (7) | 20.23 (143) d. 8.15 (63) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 93,860 | 1 October 1994 |
1995 | Carlton (16) | Geelong (8) | 21.15 (141) d. 11.14 (80) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 93,670 | 30 September 1995 |
1996 | North Melbourne (3) | Sydney (9) | 19.17 (131) d. 13.10 (88) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 93,102 | 28 September 1996 |
1997 | Adelaide | St Kilda (4) | 19.11 (125) d. 13.16 (94) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 99,645 | 27 September 1997 |
1998 | Adelaide (2) | North Melbourne (5) | 15.15 (105) d. 8.22 (70) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 94,431 | 26 September 1998 |
1999 | North Melbourne (4) | Carlton (13) | 19.10 (124) d. 12.17 (89) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 94,228 | 25 September 1999 |
2000 | Essendon (16) | Melbourne (5) | 19.21 (135) d. 11.9 (75) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 96,249 | 2 September 2000 |
2001 | Brisbane Lions | Essendon (14) | 15.18 (108) d. 12.10 (82) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 91,482 | 29 September 2001 |
2002 | Brisbane Lions (2) | Collingwood (24) | 10.15 (75) d. 9.12 (66) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 91,817 | 28 September 2002 |
2003 | Brisbane Lions (3) | Collingwood (25) | 20.14 (134) d. 12.12 (84) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 79,451 | 27 September 2003 |
2004 | Port Adelaide | Brisbane Lions | 17.11 (113) d. 10.13 (73) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 77,671 | 25 September 2004 |
2005 | Sydney (4) | West Coast (2) | 8.10 (58) d. 7.12 (54) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 91,828 | 24 September 2005 |
2006 | West Coast (3) | Sydney (10) | 12.13 (85) d. 12.12 (84) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 97,431 | 30 September 2006 |
2007 | Geelong (7) | Port Adelaide | 24.19 (163) d. 6.8 (44) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 97,302 | 29 September 2007 |
2008 | Hawthorn (10) | Geelong (9) | 18.7 (115) d. 11.23 (89) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 100,012 | 27 September 2008 |
2009 | Geelong (8) | St Kilda (5) | 12.8 (80) d. 9.14 (68) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 99,251 | 26 September 2009 |
2010 | Collingwood (15) | St Kilda (6) | 9.14 (68) drew 10.8 (68) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 100,016 | 25 September 2010 |
16.12 (108) d. 7.10 (52) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 93,853 | 2 October 2010 | |||
2011 | Geelong (9) | Collingwood (26) | 18.11 (119) d. 12.9 (81) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 99,537 | 1 October 2011 |
2012 | Sydney (5) | Hawthorn (6) | 14.7 (91) d. 11.15 (81) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 99,683 | 29 September 2012 |
2013 | Hawthorn (11) | Fremantle | 11.11 (77) d. 8.14 (62) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 100,007 | 28 September 2013 |
2014 | Hawthorn (12) | Sydney (11) | 21.11 (137) d. 11.8 (74) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 99,454 | 27 September 2014 |
2015 | Hawthorn (13) | West Coast (3) | 16.11 (107) d. 8.13 (61) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 98,633 | 3 October 2015 |
2016 | Western Bulldogs (2) | Sydney (12) | 13.11 (89) d. 10.7 (67) | Melbourne Cricket Ground | 99,981 | 1 October 2016 |
Premierships by team
This table summarises all senior premierships won by each team. The "Grand Final Matches" column includes all Grand Finals and Grand Final Replays listed in the previous section, and because of this, the column will not necessarily equal the sum of the premierships and runners-up columns.
Table correct to the end of the 2016 season
Premiership frequency
Club | Years in competition | Seasons | Premierships | Runners-up | Average years | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
per premiership | per Grand Final | |||||
Brisbane Lions | 1997–2016 | 20 | 3 | 1 | 6.67 | 5.00 |
Hawthorn | 1925–2016 | 92 | 13 | 6 | 7.14 | 4.86 |
Essendon | 1897–1915, 1918–2016 | 118 | 16 | 14 | 7.37 | 3.93 |
Carlton | 1897–2016 | 120 | 16 | 13 | 7.50 | 4.14 |
Collingwood | 1897–2016 | 120 | 15 | 26 | 8.00 | 2.93 |
West Coast | 1987–2016 | 30 | 3 | 3 | 10.00 | 6.00 |
Melbourne | 1897–1915, 1919–2016 | 117 | 12 | 5 | 9.75 | 6.88 |
Richmond | 1908–2016 | 109 | 10 | 12 | 10.90 | 4.95 |
Adelaide | 1991–2016 | 26 | 2 | 0 | 13.00 | 13.00 |
Fitzroy | 1897–1996 | 100 | 8 | 5 | 12.50 | 7.69 |
Geelong | 1897–1915, 1917–1941, 1944–2016 | 117 | 9 | 9 | 13.00 | 6.50 |
Port Adelaide | 1997–2016 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 20.00 | 10.00 |
North Melbourne | 1925–2016 | 92 | 4 | 5 | 23.00 | 10.22 |
Sydney | 1897–2016 | 119 | 5 | 12 | 23.80 | 7.00 |
Western Bulldogs | 1925–2016 | 92 | 2 | 1 | 46.00 | 30.67 |
St Kilda | 1897–1915, 1918–2016 | 118 | 1 | 6 | 118.00 | 16.85 |
Fremantle | 1995–2016 | 22 | 0 | 1 | – | 22.00 |
Greater Western Sydney | 2012–2016 | 5 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
Gold Coast | 2011–2016 | 6 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
University | 1908–1914 | 7 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
Brisbane Bears | 1987–1996 | 10 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
Longest premiership droughts
+ Drought began upon club's entry to league |
† Drought ended upon club's exit from league |
— Current drought |
Club | Seasons* | Start | End | Grand Final appearances during drought |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sydney | 72 | 1933 | 2005 | 1934, 1935, 1936, 1945, 1996 |
St Kilda | 68a | 1897+ | 1966 | 1913, 1965 |
Western Bulldogs | 62 | 1954 | 2016 | 1961 |
Melbourne | 52 | 1964 | — | 1988, 2000 |
Fitzroy | 52 | 1944 | 1996† | |
North Melbourne | 51 | 1925+ | 1975 | 1950, 1974 |
St Kilda | 50 | 1966 | — | 1971, 1997, 2009, 2010, 2010 replay |
Geelong | 44 | 1963 | 2007 | 1967, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1995 |
Hawthorn | 37 | 1925+ | 1961 | |
Richmond | 36 | 1980 | — | 1982 |
Collingwood | 32 | 1958 | 1990 | 1960, 1964, 1966, 1970, 1977, 1977 replay, 1979, 1980, 1981 |
- *The duration of the drought is given as the number of full seasons contested between premierships; the season in which the drought is broken is considered to be part of the drought.
- a St Kilda did not contest the 1916 and 1917 seasons; the duration of this drought was either 68 contested seasons, or 70 calendar years.
Table correct to the end of the 2016 season
Consecutive premierships
The most VFL/AFL premierships won consecutively is four, achieved only once, by Collingwood (1927–1930). Teams have won three premierships in a row on a further five occasions, and back-to-back premierships have been won on a further seventeen occasions.
# | Club | Years |
---|---|---|
4 | Collingwood | 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930 |
3 | Carlton | 1906, 1907, 1908 |
Melbourne | 1939, 1940, 1941 | |
Melbourne | 1955, 1956, 1957 | |
Brisbane Lions | 2001, 2002, 2003 | |
Hawthorn | 2013, 2014, 2015 | |
2 | Fitzroy | 1898, 1899 |
Collingwood | 1902, 1903 | |
Fitzroy | 1904, 1905 | |
Essendon | 1911, 1912 | |
Carlton | 1914, 1915 | |
Richmond | 1920, 1921 | |
Essendon | 1923, 1924 | |
Collingwood | 1935, 1936 | |
Essendon | 1949, 1950 | |
Geelong | 1951, 1952 | |
Melbourne | 1959, 1960 | |
Richmond | 1973, 1974 | |
Carlton | 1981, 1982 | |
Essendon | 1984, 1985 | |
Hawthorn | 1988, 1989 | |
Adelaide | 1997, 1998 |
Table correct to the end of the 2015 season
Consecutive Grand Finals
The most consecutive years in which a club has featured in the VFL/AFL Grand Final is seven, achieved by Melbourne and Hawthorn.
# | Club | Years | Win/loss |
---|---|---|---|
7 | Melbourne | 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960 | L, W, W, W, L, W, W |
Hawthorn | 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989 | W, L, L, W, L, W, W | |
6 | Collingwood | 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930 | L, L, W, W, W, W |
Essendon | 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951 | W, L, L, W, W, L | |
5 | Carlton | 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910 | W, W, W, L, L |
Collingwood | 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939 | W, W, L, L, L | |
North Melbourne | 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978 | L, W, L, W, L | |
4 | Fitzroy | 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906 | L, W, W, L |
Collingwood | 1917, 1918, 1919, 1920 | W, L, W, L | |
Richmond | 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934 | L, W, L, W | |
South Melbourne | 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936 | W, L, L, L | |
Brisbane Lions | 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 | W, W, W, L | |
Hawthorn | 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 | L, W, W, W | |
3 | Fitzroy | 1898, 1899, 1900 | W, W, L |
Collingwood | 1901, 1902, 1903 | L, W, W | |
Carlton | 1914, 1915, 1916 | W, W, L | |
Richmond | 1919, 1920, 1921 | L, W, W | |
Richmond | 1927, 1928, 1929 | L, L, L | |
Melbourne | 1939, 1940, 1941 | W, W, W | |
Richmond | 1942, 1943, 1944 | W, W, L | |
Geelong | 1951, 1952, 1953 | W, W, L | |
Carlton | 1968, 1969, 1970 | W, L, W | |
Richmond | 1972, 1973, 1974 | L, W, W | |
Collingwood | 1979, 1980, 1981 | L, L, L | |
Essendon | 1983, 1984, 1985 | L, W, W | |
Geelong | 2007, 2008, 2009 | W, L, W |
Table correct to the end of the 2016 season
Minor grades
In addition to the seniors, VFL/AFL clubs have competed in premierships at three minor grades:
- Reserves/Seconds (1919–1999)
- Under-19s/Thirds (1946–1991)
- Night Series / Pre-Season (1956–1971, 1977–2013)
Reserve grade premierships
The reserve grade premiership was held in various formats between 1919 and 1999. It was known as the Victorian Junior Football League from 1919 until 1923, the Seconds from 1924 until 1959, the VFL Reserves from 1960 until 1989, and as the AFL reserves from 1990 until 1999.[3] Until 1991, the competition was run by the VFL/AFL, and from 1992 until 1999 it was administered by the Victorian State Football League.
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Source where unlisted[12] |
Under-19s
The VFL/AFL's Under-19s competition was held between 1946 and 1991. It was known as the VFL Thirds until 1959, and as the Under-19s thereafter.[3]
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Source[12] |
Night series/preseason
The pre-season and night premiership covers three different competitions which are considered historically equivalent in status:
- VFL Night Series, a consolation competition played amongst non-finalists between 1956 and 1971
- Australian Football Championships Night Series, a mid-season knock-out competition played concurrently with the premiership and involving teams from interstate, played between 1977 and 1987
- Australian Football League pre-season competition, played before each season from 1988 until 2013
For a list of premiers in these competitions, see list of Australian Football League pre-season and night series premiers.
Premierships at all levels
Club | Seniors | Reserves | Under 19s | Night | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Essendon | 16 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 35 |
Carlton | 16 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 34 |
Melbourne | 12 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 33 |
Richmond | 10 | 9 | 11 | 1 | 31 |
Collingwood | 15 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 28 |
Hawthorn | 13 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 27 |
Geelong | 9 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 25 |
North Melbourne | 4 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 23 |
Fitzroy | 8 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 15 |
Western Bulldogs / Footscray (1925–1996) | 2 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 13 |
Sydney / South Melbourne (1897–1981) | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 10 |
St Kilda | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 9 |
Adelaide | 2 | – | – | 2 | 4 |
Brisbane Lions | 3 | – | – | 1 | 4 |
West Coast | 3 | – | – | 0 | 3 |
Port Adelaide | 1 | – | – | 2 | 3 |
Brisbane Bears | 0 | 1 | – | 0 | 1 |
Fremantle | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 |
Gold Coast | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 |
Greater Western Sydney | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 |
University | 0 | – | – | – | 0 |
Table correct to the end of the 2016 season.
Premierships in three grades in a season
On only two occasions did a club win premierships in three grades in a single year. During the years that it was achievable, no club ever won premiership in all four grades.
Year | Club | Grades |
---|---|---|
1950 | Essendon | Seniors, Reserves, Under-19s |
1973 | Richmond | Seniors, Reserves, Under-19s |
See also
- List of Australian Football League premiership captains and coaches
- List of Australian Football League pre-season and night series premiers
- List of Australian Football League wooden spoons
- AFL Grand Final
References
- ↑ NAB AFL Draft
- ↑ An object lesson in the perils of hindsight
- 1 2 "New name likely for thirds". The Sun News-Pictorial. Melbourne, VIC. 2 April 1960. p. 66.
- ↑ Michael Lovett (27 September 1992). "Daniher bows out in triumph". The Sunday Age (Sport Liftout). Melbourne, VIC. p. 19.
- ↑ Linda Pearce (26 September 1993). "Demons finally haul in premiership flag". The Sunday Age (Sport Liftout). Melbourne, VIC. p. 17.
- ↑ Gerard Wright (2 October 1994). "Dogs upstage fading North". The Sunday Age (Sport Liftout). Melbourne, VIC. p. 8.
- ↑ "Roos' turn to celebrate". The Sunday Age (Sport Liftout). 1 October 1995. p. 13.
- ↑ Alistair Ogilvie (29 September 1996). "Roos run away in reserves". Herald Sun. p. 58.
- ↑ Glenn Connley (28 September 1997). "By Gieschen, he's good". Sunday Herald Sun Sports Liftout. p. 11.
- ↑ "Sport scoreboard". The Age. 28 September 1998. p. 18.
- ↑ Howard Leigh (26 September 1999). "Bombers blitz". Sunday Herald Sun Sports Liftout. p. 22.
- 1 2 Stephen Rodgers (1992), Every Game Ever Played – VFL/AFL results 1897–1991 (3rd ed.), Viking O'Neil